A spokesperson for Correctional Services of Canada (CSC) says the safety of staff, inmates, and the public are its priority.
    This comes after reports of wide fentanyl use at the Drumheller Institution. While the Calgary Herald reported there have been seven overdoses in the last week, and two deaths in recent months, Kelly Dash, spokesperson for CSC could not confirm these numbers.
    “Overdoses are treated as security incidents by CSC and are subject to CSC investigations and possibly police investigations.  It would be inappropriate for CSC to comment on incidents which are the subject of an ongoing investigation,” she said in a written statement.
    She notes the most recent fatality at the Drumheller Institution was in September of last year when 23-year-old Cody Osterland was discovered unresponsive in his cell.
    She says illegal drugs in penitentiaries are a national issue.
     “CSC acknowledges the prevalence of substance abuse problems among offenders and assists in addressing those problems through a comprehensive drug strategy and other interventions,” she states. “Drug abuse is a global phenomenon and correctional environments are not immune to this. Almost 80 per cent of offenders arrive at federal institutions with some level of substance abuse problem, and many have multiple addictions.”
    Dash says medical staff at the institution is trained to administer Narcan, which block the effect of opioids in the event of an overdose.
    “Preventing and reducing the number of contraband items and illicit drugs in correctional institutions is a priority for CSC,” states a release.     
    “CSC has a robust preventive security and intelligence capacity aimed at monitoring and investigating inmate activity, potential drug-smuggling attempts, and seizure of illicit substances. There are a number of tools available that are used to prevent the flow of drugs into our institutions. These include intelligence investigations, searches of offenders, visitors, buildings and cells using non-intrusive search tools including ion scanners and detector dogs.”
    A fatality inquiry into the deaths of two inmates who died Christmas Eve 2011 was heard in January. Both inmates had toxic levels of fentanyl in their bodies.

The April 6 session of the 2017 Royal Tyrrell Museum’s Speaker Series is a presentation by Jeff Zimmer, from the District Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Branch, entitled “Snakes of Alberta.”

Alberta is home to six native species of snakes. They include the venomous prairie rattlesnake, the bull snake (that can grow up to two metres long), and the western hog-nosed snake that rolls over and plays dead when frightened. Snakes are feared and misunderstood by most of the human population and this can lead to their persecution and destruction. All of Alberta’s snakes are protected by provincial law, but this still does not stop some people from intentionally killing them, turning them into pets, or selling live ones.

Officer Zimmer spent several years working in snake country in the southeast corner of the province both protecting snakes and dealing with snake issues. In his presentation, he will talk about identifying native snakes, how to prevent encounters, and protect native snake habitat. He will also provide tips on what to do if you’re bitten by a snake.

The Royal Tyrrell Museum’s Speaker Series talks are free and open to the public. They are held every Thursday until April 27 at 11:00 a.m. in the Museum auditorium. Past Speaker Series talks are also available on the Museum’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/RoyalTyrrellMuseum